Late Rally Lifts No. 5 Michigan Over Titans

FULLERTON, CA -
A throwing error in the fifth inning allowed two runs to come home, breaking a 2-2 tie and rallying No. 5 Michigan to a 5-2 victory over host Cal State Fullerton to close out the second day of play at the 2011 Judi Garman Classic at Anderson Family Field.

The loss dropped the Titans to 8-12 overall and 1-1 in tournament play while the Wolverines improved to 27-1 and 2-0 at the Garman Classic.

After trailing early following a two-run home run by Amanda Chidester in the first, Fullerton rallied to tie the game in the fourth thanks to some heads up baserunning. Senior Ari Cervantes reached on a fielders choice following a Nicole Johnson infield single and moved to second on a walk to Ariel Tsuchiyama to put two on.

Both runners moved up 60 feet on a wild pitch before Stephanie Speierman (13-0) struck out the next batter for the second out. That brought up Adriana Martinez, who beat out a high chopper to third, colliding with the Michigan first baseman to knock the ball away. That was enough to allow Tsuchiyama to also score, beating a throw home before Martinez was caught trying to move up a base, ending the inning.

The Wolverines then put together another rally to take the lead for good in the fifth with two outs, getting an infield single by Lyndsay Doyle before Bree Evans' chopper to third was thrown away into centerfield as the Fullerton defense tried to get Doyle scrambling back to the bag.

The ball rolled under a diving Torrie Anderson in centerfield, who was trying to cut the ball off, as both Doyle and Evans came around to score and make it 4-2. Michigan added its final run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Amy Knapp and Jordan Taylor came on in the sixth, pitching the final 1 1/3 innings to log her fifth save of the year, striking out two.

Cervantes (7-6) suffered the loss for the Titans, allowing three earned on seven hits and striking out four in the complete game. Speierman allowed the two runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings, working around seven walks to remain perfect in the circle on the season.

Cal State Fullerton continues tournament play on Friday (March 18) as the Titans take on Illinois at 5:30 p.m.